By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday said the Senate’s move to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives has not terminated the process, but warned that it risks triggering a constitutional deadlock and undermining public trust.
In a radio interview, Hontiveros expressed frustration over the 18-5 vote that remanded the impeachment complaint, calling it a step backward after the Senate had already convened as an impeachment court.
“Hindi naman kami PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) finals. Impeachment court kami. Sa halip na umusad, umurong (We’re not the PBA finals. We’re an impeachment court. Instead of moving forward, we went backward),” she said, questioning why the process had to backtrack after long delays.
Hontiveros, one of five senators who voted against the motion, said the justification for returning the articles — to seek clarification from the House on the one-year bar rule — was unnecessary and could have been addressed directly with the House prosecutors through certification or compliance.
“Napakadaling gawin. Certification lang ‘yan (It’s very easy to do. It’s just a certification),” she said.
She warned that forcing the House to act on a motion it never initiated could lead to a constitutional standoff.
“Hindi na po kailangang ibalik pa sa House… kung gusto lang mag-certify ng readiness ang 20th Congress — na, by the way, ay hindi pa nage-exist (There’s no need to return it to the House… unless the 20th Congress wants to certify its readiness — which, by the way, does not yet exist),” she added.
The senator also pointed out that the motion’s “vague” language — which its sponsors insisted was not a dismissal — contained implications of suspension, dismissal, and lack of jurisdiction. This, she said, could signal an intentional delay.
“Actually, napapatanong tuloy ako, hindi ba gaslighting ‘yung nangyari? Pinaikot-ikot ang mga salita para malito tayo (Actually, it makes me wonder — wasn’t that gaslighting? Twisting words around just to confuse us)?” she said.
Asked whether the Senate’s move could be deemed unconstitutional, Hontiveros said such a question, if formally raised, would be up to the Supreme Court.
But Hontiveros emphasized that she and Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and Sherwin Gatchalian — will continue to push for the trial to proceed. (PNA)
